Many of our students join us after deciding to finally check music off their bucket list. They’ve always wanted to learn music, and just now feel like they have some time – perhaps the kids are going to college, or maybe they’ve reached a point in their career where they have a bit more freedom. Or maybe they took lessons as a child and want to “re-learn” what they studied decades ago.
Statista reports that only 12% of adults between the ages of 35-45 play a musical instrument, so the sheer rarity of musical adults makes it seem harder to play an instrument than it is. The truth is, you can become a competent drummer or guitarist in just a couple of years, and you’ll be able to play intermediate piano or violin music by year four (if you practice).
If you are interested in music lessons in Brooklyn or online, please get in touch. We enjoy helping adults reach their goals on the piano, guitar, drums, and other instruments, and we would be happy to hear from you.
Is 40 Too Old To Learn an Instrument?
No, forty is not even close to being too old to learn how to play an instrument. In fact, many adults start playing instruments much later, at retirement age for instance. The instrument you choose will, in part, dictate how long it takes you to reach proficiency, but if you commit to practicing every day you will make steady progress.
Taking Lessons Can Help You Coach Your Children in Music
If your child is working with a piano teacher in Brooklyn, for instance, they would benefit from your help. Children learn instruments much faster when a parent can sit with them and help them practice.
But if you don’t know how to reach music, count, or identify the piano keys, can you really help your child learn? You can help give your child a bright future in music by learning the basics of an instrument and practicing with them daily. You may find that you enjoy the instrument enough to keep playing it for the long term.
Adults Have Some Advantages When Learning an Instrument
Adults are Motivated
If you decide you want to take guitar lessons at the age of forty (or 25, 65, etc.), you probably have specific goals in mind. Furthermore, if you are taking the time and spending the money to take lessons, you are probably motivated to practice and get better.
Children are often not very motivated – they are only in lessons because their parents enrolled them. They attend lessons, then only think about the instrument when their parents make them.
Adults who enroll in lessons, on the other hand, want to play music. They want to play in a band with friends, have a guitar on hand at parties, or relax at the end of a long day by sight reading music at the piano.
Motivation Leads To Discipline and Strategy
If you know what you want to do with music, you can create a specific strategy and following. If you want to learn chords on the guitar, download an app or buy flashcards, then learn 1-2 chords each day.
If you want to play pop music on the piano, learn chords through similar means, then practice playing them on the piano for 10-30 minutes per day. If you want to take drum lessons, you can start by learning simple grooves and adding incrementally more difficult techniques.
It’s important to note that you will make far greater progress if you work with a teacher. An experienced music instructor will listen to your goals, give you material to practice on your own each week, and point you in the right direction if you want to supplement your learning with other methods.
Learning To Play Music Isn’t Exotic or Unattainable
It’s never too late to learn how to play an instrument, and the sooner you get started, the sooner you will be playing music you love.
To get started with lessons at Williamsburg Music Studio, contact us today – we would love to hear from you.
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